Richard Gureghian of Burlington, Mass. formerly of Watertown, Mass. passed away on May 11, 2014. He grew up in the little red brick house his father built on School Street in Watertown, around the corner from the St. James Armenian Apostolic Church, where he was an alter server as a child. His parents did not have much money, and they taught him that he needed to work for whatever he needed and wanted.
After graduating from Watertown High School, Richard worked several jobs to pay for college. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Northeastern University.
During his college years, Richard would often visit and help out at the gas station of Yeghia Haytayan on Main Street in Watertown. This is where he met and fell in love with Yeghia’s daughter, Nelly, whom he married on September 29, 1973.
Richard and Nelly settled in Burlington and had two children, Tamar and Melanie. Richard’s career was in the field of Mechanical Engineering, specializing in Shock and Vibration. He worked for Barry Controls in charge of Sales and Marketing and New Product Development. Richard was also a published author of articles and books in the field of Mechanical Engineering. He was also an inventor, having several patents for products in that area. He developed a controllable platform suspension for treadmills.
Richard faced a lot of adversity in his life, but always remained strong. When his children were very young, Richard was involved in a serious car accident which almost killed him. His recovery was difficult and painful. While most people would have given up, Richard knew he had to provide for his family and got back to work. He later took a position at Lord Corporation which was based in Erie, Pennsylvania. This job required him to travel, often for four days every week. It hurt him deeply to be away from his wife and kids, but he did it to provide a good life for them.
Later he started the Arason Company, which services the aerospace, defense, civilian and medical industries.
Richard always loved cars and was especially fond of Corvettes. He served as President of the North Shore Corvettes of Massachusetts for ten years. During his time as President, he started the “Vettes for Vets” campaign, a clothing and fundraising drive to benefit the Veterans Hospital in Bedford, Mass. Richard found great pleasure in driving his beloved 2005 Corvette z06. He could often be found in the driveway washing, waxing and polishing his car, and often leading a caravan of Corvettes down the highways all over the Northeast for another club outing.
Richard was always willing to help out a friend. He was very generous with his time and his money. He got great pleasure from taking friends and family out to eat and loved to host people at his Burlington home.
He was a man proud of his Armenian heritage, but even prouder to be an American. He loved world history, and took particular interest in the history of World War II. Richard was also an active member of the St. James Church Men’s Club.
But above all else, Richard Gureghian was a family man. That is how he defined himself, that is how he carried himself, and that is how he would want to be remembered.
He adored his beloved wife Nelly, cherished his daughters Tamar and Melanie, and treasured his grandson, Evan. He was happiest in and amongst their company, and reveled in the memories that he had shared with them, always eager to create more.
Over the past few years, even as his health was betraying him, his concerns were not himself, but for his family. His new crusade was to ensure that he had provided for his family’s wellbeing into the future, and that his house, and household, was properly maintained and planned for, so that Nelly “wouldn’t have to worry about a thing”.
Richard S. Gureghian was a family man. In them, through them and from them, he found his greatest pleasure, his crowning achievements, and his everlasting love. They defined him, and he would not have had it any other way.
Gureghian. He is the beloved husband of Nelly (Haytayan) Gureghian. Devoted father of Tamar Gureghian – Timmons and her spouse David and Melanie Meola and her spouse Stefanie. Loving grandfather of Evan. Brother of the late Warren Gureghian. Visiting hours at the Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, 558 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown on Friday, May 16 from 3 – 6 p.m. Prayer services will be at 5:00 p.m. A memorial meal will be held the at the Chateau Restaurant, 195 School Street, Waltham , at 6:30 p.m. immediately following the visiting hours . Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Memorial gifts may be made to Saint James Armenian Church, 465 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472 or the American Heart Association, 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701. Interment service is private.